Delaware River and Bay Authority’s Wilmington – New Castle Airport (ILG) Earns National Award for Airport Training Excellence

(New Castle, DE)  Today, Delaware River and Bay Authority officials announced that the Wilmington – New Castle Airport (ILG) has earned an ANTN Digicast Excellence in Airport Training award for training completed in calendar year 2012.  Presented by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), the award signifies that Wilmington – New Castle Airport’s airfield operations staff has completed a specified amount of federally mandated airport-specific and continuing education training using ANTN Digicast's Web-based training system.  New Castle Airport is one of only 70 airports nationwide to earn the honor for 2012.       

“We pleased to be able to partner with AAAE and ANTN to offer our operations staff the finest supplemental airport training in a cost-effective manner,” said Stephen D. Williams, Airports Director for the Delaware River and Bay Authority.  “Not only does the comprehensive training program ensure that our airport personnel are familiar with all elements of our Part 139 requirements, but it also contains the latest industry guidance on airfield safety and situational awareness topics.”

The award levels are based on total training programs watched and total number of employees trained at each airport.  Award levels vary based on the airport's hub size, and each winning airport is presented with a plaque marking its achievement.

"By earning Excellence in Airport Training awards, these 70 airports have demonstrated their dedication to improving operations, safety, and preparedness,” said Joan Lowden, AAAE senior vice president of communications and general manager of AAAE's Airport News and Training Network (ANTN) division that produces ANTN Digicast. "ANTN Digicast was created for airports of all sizes to efficiently and successfully help them comply with federally mandated training needs and support an advanced training curriculum, and we’re encouraged that so many airports have made it a key part of their training programs.”

 Airports that subscribe to ANTN Digicast have unlimited access to the service's training programs, which currently number some 500 videos. Topics covered range from Federal Aviation Administration required recurrent training in areas including airfield driver training and wildlife mitigation to security-related training, customer service, and more. ANTN Digicast training is designed for airport employees as well as tenants, such as airline workers and subcontractors, who work at an airport.

ANTN Digicast programming is accessible online via any Web-enabled computer, and the system tracks training on a per-user basis, allowing airports to demonstrate to regulators that their employees have completed required recurrent training.

For more information on ANTN Digicast, visit www.antndigicast.com.

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About the Delaware River and Bay Authority

The Delaware River and Bay Authority, a bi-state governmental agency created by Compact in 1962, owns and operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May- Lewes Ferry, and the Three Forts Ferry Crossing. The Authority also manages corporate and aviation properties through its economic development powers - two airports in New Jersey (Millville Airport and Cape May Airport) and three in Delaware (New Castle Airport, Civil Air Terminal and Delaware Airpark). All agency operating revenues are generated through the bridge, ferry and airport facilities.

ABOUT AAAE: Founded in 1928, AAAE (www.aaae.org) is the world’s largest professional organization representing the men and women who work at public-use commercial and general aviation airports. AAAE’s 5,000-plus members represent some 850 airports and hundreds of companies and organizations that support the airport industry. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., AAAE serves its membership through results-oriented representation in Washington, D.C. and delivers a wide range of industry services and professional development opportunities including training, conferences, and a highly respected accreditation program.